It's easy to achieve world record solar performance. You just have to define your niche properly. The following records were all announced recently:
- Most efficient solar cell: a five-junction concentrator device from the University of New South Wales. 43% efficient.
- Most efficient triple-junction cell: a concentrator cell from SpectroLab. 41.6% efficient.
- Most efficient screen-printed monocrystalline silicon production cell: more than 18% efficient, from Suniva. The "screen-printed" qualifier is important, as SunPower's non-screen-printed production cells top 20%.
- Most efficient multicrystalline silicon panels: 15.6% efficiency, achieved by Suntech Power. Though this is a lower number than the other records, it's actually pretty interesting. It's for a complete panel, not a cell, and beats Sandia's longstanding record.
Update: But wait, there's more! I missed this one...
- Most efficient flexible CdTe cell. 12.4%, achieved by a group in Switzerland. This one is important because it uses a low temperature process, compatible with roll-to-roll processing.